Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The cover of this book is so eye-catching, I don't know how anyone could walk by it and not pick it up. Faith Bass Darling, the elderly wealthy woman whose family founded the Texas town of Bass, has heard the voice of God and he wants her to have a garage sale and sell all of her worldly goods. This won't be any ordinary garage sale; Faith has collected hundreds of expensive antiques over the years. She pays some high school football players to haul her items out of her house and place them on the lawn.When word spreads about the sale, and the fact that Darling is selling antique Tiffany lamps for just a $1, people race to get a deal. Bobbie Blankenship, the town antique store owner and friend of Faith's estranged daughter, is torn between shock at what she sees going on and the desire to get her hands on some of the more valuable items for herself. When Bobbie tries to talk some sense into Faith and get her to get a proper appraisal and hold a real auction, Faith brushes her off. Bobbie realizes that Faith is suffering from dementia and calls Faith's daughter Claudia to get home on the double.As the story progresses, we meet Claudia, and John Jasper, a sheriff's deputy and former best friend to Faith's son who was tragically killed in an accident when he was in high school. When he asks Faith why she is doing this, she tells him that she killed her husband years ago.No one can talk Faith out of giving her items away, and she can't explain to them exactly why it is necessary to do this. Through the antiques, we get the back story of what has happened to the Darling family, and why they are estranged. Some of the pieces have important stories of their own, stories that explain how Faith has gotten to this point in her life.The writing really draws you in, and the characters seem like real small-town people that you would know. You feel like Bass, Texas is a real place, and if you went there, you'd run into Bobbie and John Jasper on your journey through the town. The story fascinated me, and one question leads to another. I liked Faith Bass Darling and how her search for the truth behind memories and the meaning of possessions and spirituality in your life comes together for her.

Amy Einhorn Books continues its streak of finding new writers with unique voices in Lynda Rutledge, and once again, I look forward to seeing more from the imprint.